Kevin Kohmann competing at TerraNova Equestrian Center. Photo by Jessica Buehler Photography.

The equestrian sport of dressage is one of power, finesse and harmony. In this world, Kevin Kohmann stands alone. The German born rider emigrated to the United States at 18 and joined Diamante Farms in Wellington, Florida, as a rider and trainer in 2014. Since then, Kohmann has established himself as one of the foremost riders in the sport. On May 2, Kohmann competed at TerraNova Equestrian Center in Myakka City, where he topped the leaderboard in the B&D Builders LLC CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle. Below is an excerpt from the full Q&A interview that will appear in the September issue of SRQ Magazine.

SRQ: Where did your journey into horseback riding and the sport of dressage begin?

My mother always had horses and is still breeding them today. I started riding as a young child, when I was 12 years old, and when I was 15 I began riding professionally. In Germany, regardless of what career you choose, whether you want to become a hairdresser or car mechanic or horse rider, you first have to work for a master for three years and then you get something equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. I became the youngest professional rider in Germany with a degree and in 2006, at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, I met somebody who said to me, “Hey, do you want a job in America?” I said, “Sure, I don’t speak any English, but I’ll come over.” After my first three years in the United States, I went back to Germany to get my master’s degree and became the youngest master in Germany. A master’s degree gives you a very well-rounded education—everything from dressage to jumping to how to build a farm, horse anatomy and psychology and coaching. In 2014, I started my own business and immediately ran it out of Diamante Farms. I ended up marrying Devon Kane, who owns the farm, and also is a professional rider. This industry and all that it entails, is for crazy people. You kind of need to have somebody in the industry—nobody else will understand what it takes.

Kevin Kohmann competing at TerraNova Equestrian Center. Photo by Jessica Buehler Photography.

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